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First on this tape, from Sky One, an episode of 3rd Rock from the Sun. At the time, I didn’t watch many of these, despite my admiration for John Lithgow.

It’s a mark of how little I watched it that I had no idea Joseph Gordon Levitt is in it, playing an incredibly young version of himself.

After this episode, the recording continues for a bit with the start of an episode of Jimmy’s, one of those hospital documentaries.

Then, it switches to Channel 4 and an episode of Cybill. I like the cold open, where Cybill is on the street, dressed as a prostitute, as research, but everyone else she meets is doing the same thing.

Wendie Malick, off of Dream On, plays Ira’s new girlfriend.

She seems to have some kind of multiple personality disorder, weirdly triggered by running water. There’s a really obscure joke in there when Cybill says, of Ira, “He’s divorced Cybill with a C and marrying Sybil with an S” – a reference to a 1976 film in which Sally Field plays a woman with multiple personalities.

After this, an episode of Father Ted. This one is called Cigarettes and Alcohol and Rollerblading. Father Dick Byrne persuades Ted to give up cigarettes for lent. Dougal has to give up rollerblading.

They find it hard to cope with, so they get a nun to come over and help, but her treatment is a little more drastic than they were expecting.

Next, an episode of Roseanne. Dan has quit his job so the family decide to go on holiday. Although this series, Becky was played by original actor Lecy Goranson, in this episode she’s played by the other Becky, Sarah Chalke. Hence Roseanne’s line “Aren’t you glad that you’re here this week?”

This is the first of a two parter. I’ve already looked at the second part, back in 2014.

Next, Rory Bremner… Who Else? I do like the overtly political content of these shows, although the context is obscure.

It’s still surprising how much Princess Diana was the punchline of so much comedy at this time – a year before she died. Her status as ‘Queen of our hearts’ was usually sarcastic.

Bremner does Clarkson.

Not convinced by his Anne Widdecombe

The CGI Guy is back

Richard E Grant narrates a short story with illustrations by Willie Rushton

Frances Barber does a monologue

After this, recording continues for a short time, just until Eurotrash starts, but then recording switches.

It’s an episode of TFI Friday. Clearly, I was still persevering with this.

However, there’s a very strange sense of synchronicity, as the programme opens with a sketch set in an operating theatre. Featuring a Princess Diana lookalike (it was topical).

And one of the surgeons is Richard E Grant. Who we heard in Rory Bremner.

Actually, all the surgeons are either guests or lookalikes. That’s Vic Reeves you can see on the left, with Grant on the right.

Robert Smith of the Cure

Jools Holland

The show opens with The Cure doing Friday I’m in Love.

There’s a bit where they do a list of ‘people we hate’ scrolling up the screen quickly. Of course I screengrabbed them. Yes I am one of the Freeze Frame Bores.

Edited to say: I have just learned about the shockingly young death of Cranberries singer Dolores O’Riordan. I know nothing about The Cranberries, but I have to assume that “The Moody Bird from the Cranberries” must refer to her. So, reluctantly, I think we have to add her name to the blog’s Death Watch, unless one of readers wants to correct me.

First guest is Jools Holland

Ronald Fraser turns up for a bit where he’s the man in a burning hat.

Music from Terrorvision

At home with Chris and Cher

Next guest is Richard E Grant

Another guest – Zig from Zig and Zag.

Also appearing, Zag from Zig and Zag

There’s more music from The Cure, then the final guest is Vic Reeves.

Then, to play us out, Sleeper.

The tape ends just before the next programme starts, which would appear to be an old film that might have been the basis of a Tom Hanks 80s teen comedy.